Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Santiago
BoySpanish· “Saint James”
- Meaning
- Saint James
- Origin
- Spanish
- Pronunciation
- san-tee-AH-goh
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #26
- US babies 2025
- 7,554
- Best rank
- #26 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Santiago
Santiago is a Spanish name that means “Saint James”.
Santiago is a Spanish name meaning Saint James, from Sant Iago, with Iago a medieval Spanish form of James. Saint James the Greater is the patron saint of Spain, and the pilgrimage route to his shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia has drawn travelers for over a thousand years. Many cities across Latin America carry the name, including the capital of Chile. As a given name it is popular throughout the Spanish-speaking world and increasingly in the United States. It is warm and rhythmic, with Santi and Tiago as common nicknames.
Popularity over time
Santiago has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 138 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #26, and its highest count, 7,554 babies. Use has grown 135% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #731 in 1920, #593 in 1950, #538 in 1980, #359 in 2000, #134 in 2010, and #26 in 2025. Of the 103,828 US boys named Santiago since records began, 36% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 36,449 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Cooper, Miles, Hudson, Luca, and Ezra.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Santiago ranked highest in California, Texas, and Arizona.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #4 | 1,991 |
| Texas | #4 | 1,829 |
| Arizona | #4 | 361 |
| Nevada | #4 | 138 |
| New Mexico | #5 | 70 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Santiago is usually pronounced san-tee-AH-goh, with four syllables. It has eight letters, starts with S and ends in “-go”.
Middle names for Santiago
A few middle names that flow with Santiago: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Santiago
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Lists that include Santiago
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Santiago mean?
Santiago is a Spanish name that means “Saint James”.
What is the origin of the name Santiago?
Santiago has Spanish roots. Santiago is a Spanish name meaning Saint James, from Sant Iago, with Iago a medieval Spanish form of James.
Is Santiago a popular name?
Yes. Santiago ranked #26 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Santiago a boy or girl name?
Santiago is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Santiago?
Santiago is usually pronounced san-tee-AH-goh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings